May 20, 2024

Critical injuries from late Saturday night pedestrian accident in Salina

Posted May 20, 2024 5:07 PM

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Lead Reporter - Salina Post

Late Saturday evening, a driver on South Broadway Boulevard struck a pedestrian who was walking east across the large roadway on South Street, critically injuring the pedestrian.

According to Salina Police Department (SPD) Capt. David Villanueva, a 48-year-old Salina driver struck the pedestrian at about 10:12 p.m. while she had a green light heading north on Broadway. 

Villanueva said a witness saw the cross signals flashing "Do Not Cross" as the pedestrian entered the roadway.

"It was an independent witness who saw that the east and westbound lights were red — north and southbound was green," Villanueva said. "The car was going about 35 to 40 mph and didn't see the person when he stepped in front of the vehicle. That's when the collision occurred."

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First responders took the 52-year-old Salina pedestrian to Salina Regional Health Center before crews transported him to Wesleyan Medical Center in Wichita for further treatment.

Villanueva said the pedestrian wore dark gray pants with a gray t-shirt, making him almost invisible in the late evening on May 18. The police report did not provide further updates on the man's condition in the hospital. 

"It's still an ongoing investigation," Villanueva said. "Considering the fact that the driver had a green light while traveling northbound, she could do that. At the eastbound-westbound, the witness said it showed 'Don't Cross.'"

SPD officers continue investigating the incident.

Salina Post will update the story as more information becomes available.